Why a certified aromatherapist?

Extensive training

To become a certified professional aromatherapist, you must complete 310 hours of coursework which includes 235 hours of essential oil study and 75 hours of anatomy and physiology. My training covered more aspects about essential oils than I ever knew existed. The course was heavy on the chemistry to understand why the oils work the way they do. We learned how to blend according to chemical families, individual components of an oil (such as linalool and citral), by plant parts (roots, flowers, leaves, wood) and by aroma.

My training doesn’t stop there though. I am an enthusiastic learner and continue to immerse myself in further education. This varies depending on the day and the needs of my clients but can include specific conditions, new and less familiar oils, the best oils for a particular condition as well as the results of new studies.

Treat yourself

So many of us, spend much of our time taking care of others and putting our needs at the bottom of the pile. This is an opportunity to do so something that is all about you. I think about the message you hear on the airplane, “Put your own oxygen mask on first before assisting others”. If you run out of oxygen you will not be able to help anyone else. In the same way, the better we nurture ourselves, the more we have to give to others.

There can be a ripple effect to taking care of yourself with essential oils. Say we make a blend to help you feel more peaceful, it not only benefits you in the moment but you then go about your tasks in a different headspace and probably share some of that peace as you interact with others.

It’s a gift to yourself that keeps on giving. It is not a one-time treatment. You will have your specially made blend that you can use over and over. I will keep the formulation for your blend on file so I can easily make refills for you.

Just right

When I would go to the store and smell the premade blends, some of them I loved but some of them I definitely did not. The same kind of experience would happen with the recipes for blends that I found online or in books. Maybe this has happened to you. Maybe you have an oil or blend but it just doesn’t do anything for you. With your input, I will make an aromatherapy blend that will be unique to you and appeal to your senses. Like the porridge in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, not too hot, not too cold but just right!

Safety

There is much advice circulating about the use of essential oils such as using them undiluted or ingesting numerous drops daily that would not be considered safe by the experts in the field. There are many factors to take into account to ensure that the oils are right for your unique make-up—your condition, your age, your level of health, your lifestyle and your medications. There is in fact a 784-page book calledEssential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Professionals (Tisserand & Young, 2013) that I refer to often. The size of the book alone conveys the wealth of knowledge that has been gleaned about the use of essential oils.

Essential oils are extremely concentrated. For example, the peppermint oil derived from the leaves is about 0.1% to 1% of the yield of the plant material. And it takes about 30-50 roses to produce one drop of rose oil. The oils are very powerful and need to be used with knowledge of possible interactions with medications, medical conditions and who they can be used with. Young children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, the elderly or those with complex medical conditions have systems that are much more sensitive so need a delicate approach. With women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, we want to be very cautious about potential effects on the child. Oils that should not be used during pregnancy include myrrh and fennel. The use of essential oils with people who have allergies or chemical sensitivities should be approached carefully and cautiously. The use of phototoxic oils such as lemon, lime, grapefruit or bergamot on the skin can cause burning, blistering or pigmentation when exposed to UV light from the sun or tanning beds after their application. There are safe levels of these oils identified by experts in the field to guide our blending. Not everyone who is creating products or giving advice has this necessary knowledge. For example, I came across a bergamot lip balm in a store. It would smell great but contains one of the most phototoxic oils. I don’t even want to think about what would happen to your lips if you used this on a day at the beach. Yikes! As you can see there are many factors to take into account but this is one of the advantages of working with a certified aromatherapist who has received training in all of these areas to ensure that the blend is safe for you.

Evidence-based

I strive to use essential oils that have been shown in research to have positive effects on various issues. I would be happy to share the research behind the oils I choose for you.

Free of pressure or governed by sales

Other than the bespoke blend that I create for you, I don’t sell other products or particular brands. You can just come to the visit knowing exactly what it will cost and not feeling the pressure to buy anything else.

The material provided on this website is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Janine Voort, Certified Professional Aromatherapist, and Lavandula.ca are not engaged in rendering medical service or advice and the information provided is not a substitute for a professional medical opinion. If you have a medical problem, please contact a qualified health professional.